Erika Wrapped 2024
Art That Made Me Happy This Year
It appears I am still in my post-election-depression-chrysalis state.
I didn’t want to have to write more than once about being depressed, because, well… it’s not that interesting.
I keep fantasizing I’ll wake up cured from my depression like this scene in Persepolis:
But instead I wake up every morning with a 20 lb weight on my chest and a dense cloud over my head.
When I write and draw I’m always hoping that I might help someone have a better day.
Usually that’s through being lighthearted and silly. Sometimes it’s through philosophizing on hope.
But as I continue to feel so shitty I wonder if it’s maybe important that I let myself be sad for a bit instead of trying to so quickly resolve these emotions.
I don’t think I’m really doing the best job “feeling my feelings” as they say, but something that continues to help me time and again is connecting with others: through conversation, books, or art.
And in the vein of trying to heal my tortured heart and hopefully maybe yours too— here are some conversations, books, and art that have helped get me through these last weeks (and year):
🎙My Favorite Podcasts of 2024🎙
Threedom
Threedom is a comedy podcast with Lauren Lapkus, Paul F. Thompkins, and Scott Aukerman.
I am obsessed with all of them. Their banter lightens any day. 10/10 Silly Fucks.
Las Culturistas
Las Culturistas is also a silly-as-fuck-production with icons Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers.
As you may guess, they shoot the shit while discussing the cultural landmarks of the week. 10/10 Silly Fucks.
Why Won’t You Date Me
WWYDM with Nicole Byer is a treasure I’ve been listening to for years. She is absolutely hilarious and her jubilant guffaw alone could heal one thousand broken hearts. 10/10 Silly Gooses.
Wiser Than Me
Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis Dreyfus is a delicious find.
In my sad-sack-state yesterday I binged 3 episodes of Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ podcast, where she interviews “iconic older women who are brimming with the kind of unapologetic attitude and wisdom that only comes with age.”
I listened to the Alice Waters (chef), Dolores Huerta (civil rights organizer), and Jane Goodall (primatologist) episodes.
Each episode was beautiful and deeply inspiring.
Books I Read in 2024
I wish I had more diligently documented all the books I’ve read this year, but I just threw together my best attempt at what I recall having read:
📖 My Favorite Books of 2024 📖
⭐ Best Overall Read ⭐
“Love in The Time of Cholera” by Gabriel García Márquez.
⭐ Biggest Mind-fuck ⭐
“I Who Have Never Known Men” by Jacqueline Harpman
⭐ Favorite Zine ⭐
“How Are We To Live? Comics for a Free Palestine” by Ellen O’Grady
🎨 My Favorite Art of 2024 🎨
Arcane Season 2:
Arcane is an epic story about class conflict in a world of magic, but the best part of about it is the relationship between sisters Vi and Powder. It’s heart-wrenching and the villains and conflict are very nuanced.
I found the first season to be more focused on it’s messaging, but this newest season was still a pleasure to watch.
Scavengers Reign:
Everything about this show is perfect to me. The animation, the writing, the spaceship that looks like an enormous stapler, the character arcs— they’re all absolutely incredible.
The alien-life depictions are possibly the most clever I’ve ever seen. If you enjoy sci-fi Scavengers Reign is a MUST WATCH!
My Pop Girlies + Radiohead:
Yes, I simped real hard for my pop girlies this year.
They are all masters of the hook, the chorus, and the big, big feelings.
You see, I never stood a chance.
Chappell had me at:
“My friends call me a loser
'Cause I'm still hanging around
I've heard so many rumors
That I'm just a girl that you bang on your couch
I thought you thought of me better
Someone you couldn't lose
You said, "We're not together"
So now when we kiss, I have anger issues”
Radiohead / Thom Yorke had me at:
“She looks like the real thing
She tastes like the real thing
My fake plastic love
But I can't help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
If I just turn and run
And it wears me out
It wears me out
It wears me out
It wears me out
And if I could be who you wanted
If I could be who you wanted
All the time
All the time”
Taylor had me at:
“I saw in my mind fairy lights through the mist
I kept calm and carried the weight of the rift
Pulled him in tighter each time he was drifting away
My spine split from carrying us up the hill
Wet through my clothes, weary bones caught the chill
I stopped trying to make him laugh
Stopped trying to drill the safe
Thinkin, how much sad did you think I had
Did you think I had in me?
Oh, the tragedy ...”
Comments (Let’s Chat!):
Are you a fan of anything I listed above?
What was your Spotify Wrapped (if you had one)?
I’m always looking for new music.
Do you have any book recommendations for me based on what I’ve read this year?
I cannot get enough!!!
Listening to:
I'm bummed that Scavenger's Reign wasn't renewed for season 2. Definitely one of the best shows I've seen in a while. But glad we got that first season!
My recommendation is to watch anime with me
mission accomplished, your intentions when writing to make others feel better works
hemmingway once mentioned of 3 books to take to a desert island one was a hundred years of solitude...the other 2 the bible and henry fielding's the adventures of Tom Jones...i highly recommend 2 of them keep the other in a drawer fir the next 4 years 😉
also seeing as you read anne patchett i read Tom Lake this year...very good i wont spoil the twist